The 2025 Strictly Come Dancing roster has officially been revealed, with betting markets already highlighting four celebrities as strong favourites to lift this year’s Glitterball Trophy.
Returning to the ballroom are hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, guiding viewers through another season of Latin and ballroom routines featuring 15 new celebrity contestants eager to impress the judges and audiences alike.
The line-up includes familiar champions, such as Love Island winner Dani Dyer and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! victor Vicky Pattison. Sports stars are also well represented, with former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw and ex-Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, a Golden Boot winner in his playing days, joining the mix.
As anticipation builds, the big question remains: which of these celebrities has the talent, determination, and charisma to claim the coveted Glitterball Trophy this December?
Ellie Emerges as Early Favourite
Ellie Goldstein has quickly established herself as the front-runner for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, with betting apps placing her at 3/1 to claim the Glitterball Trophy.
The model, actor, and influencer made headlines in 2023 as the first model with Down’s syndrome to appear on the cover of British Vogue, and now she is set to bring her pioneering spirit to the Strictly dancefloor.
Ellie has expressed her excitement about the upcoming season while acknowledging that the competition will be “challenging,” promising fans a performance to remember.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025: Series Winner Odds
| Celebrity | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Ellie Goldstein | 3/1 | Bet365 |
| Dani Dyer | 5/1 | Star Sports |
| George Clarke | 13/2 | Star Sports |
| Vicky Pattison | 8/1 | Star Sports |
| Karen Carney | 11/1 | Star Sports |
| Tom Skinner | 12/1 | Star Sports |
| Alex Kingston | 14/1 | Star Sports |
| Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Nitro) | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| La Voix | 16/1 | Star Sports |
| Balvinder Sopal | 16/1 | William Hill |
| Kristian Nairn | 25/1 | William Hill |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | 33/1 | William Hill |
| Stefan Dennis | 40/1 | William Hill |
| Chris Robshaw | 40/1 | William Hill |
| Ross King | 50/1 | William Hill |
This table highlights the early favourites and long shots for the 2025 series, with Ellie Goldstein leading the way at 3/1
George Clarke is currently the third favourite at 13/2, with former Queen of the Jungle Vicky Pattison next in line at 8/1.
While Vicky is “buzzing” with excitement about joining the show, she admits to feeling nervous about performing in front of a national audience.
“I am not a natural dancer,” she confessed. “However, it’s such an incredible opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself in a completely new way. I just really hope I don’t make too much of a fool of myself!”
Mid Market Contenders
Occupying the middle of the betting market are several familiar faces, including The Apprentice alum Thomas Skinner, known for his iconic “bosh” catchphrase, and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, better known as Nitro.
Former England women’s footballer Karen Carney is the standout among the double-figure odds, priced at 11/1, followed closely by Skinner at 12/1. Nitro sits at 14/1, level with Doctor Who star Alex Kingston.
That said, Kingston’s official comments about joining this year’s Strictly may do little to convince punters to back her as the next Glitterball Trophy winner.
Alex Kingston is currently priced at 14/1 to win this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, placing her just ahead of drag performer La Voix (16/1) and EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal (16/1) in the betting markets.
For Balvinder, the opportunity is nothing short of a lifelong ambition fulfilled. She said:
“Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen. Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of. I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!”
King Facing Early Strictly Exit?
Every series needs someone to prop up the betting markets, and this year that dubious honour falls to Ross King.
Best known as ITV’s Los Angeles Correspondent on Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, Ross may not deliver much Hollywood glamour on the dancefloor if the bookmakers’ early odds are anything to go by.
He’s a 50/1 outsider to lift the Glitterball Trophy, but his Strictly journey could be over almost as soon as it begins — with betting sites making him the 7/4 favourite to be the first contestant eliminated this season.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025: First Elimination Odds
With the dancefloor battles yet to begin, speculation is already mounting over who could be the first celebrity to exit Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Unsurprisingly, Ross King finds himself at the foot of the outright market and leads the way in the elimination betting too. The ITV presenter is the 7/4 favourite (36.4% implied probability) to be sent packing after the first public vote.
Close behind is Chris Robshaw (15/8), the former England rugby captain who may struggle to adapt his powerhouse sporting skills to the ballroom. Veteran actor Stefan Dennis isn’t far off either at 2/1, with bookmakers suggesting his time could also be cut short.
Ex-footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (5/2) and Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn (3/1) are also in danger of early exits if they don’t win over the judges and audience alike.
Here are the latest first elimination odds in full:
| Celebrity | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Ross King | 7/4 | 36.4% |
| Chris Robshaw | 15/8 | 34.8% |
| Stefan Dennis | 2/1 | 33.3% |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | 5/2 | 28.6% |
| Kristian Nairn | 3/1 | 25% |
| Balvinder Sopal | 7/2 | 22.2% |
| La Voix | 4/1 | 20% |
| Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Nitro) | 9/2 | 18.2% |
| Alex Kingston | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Thomas Skinner | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Karen Carney | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Vicky Pattison | 7/1 | 12.5% |
| George Clarke | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Dani Dyer | 9/1 | 10% |
| Ellie Goldstein | 10/1 | 9.1% |
